[PROGRAM OF RESEARCH]

Current Research

institute

Duke University

group

Laboratory of NeuroGenetics (LoNG)

advisors

Ahmad Hariri, Ph.D.Tim Strauman, Ph.D.

Under the mentorship of Ahmad Hariri and Tim Strauman, I am investigating the impact of normative variability in parenting on neurodevelopment. I am currently focused on how parental care and protection may differentially impact amygdala response to threat in adolescence. Moving forward, I intend to examine this question more broadly, exploring the wide-spread neural circuitry impacted by various early parenting styles. My hope is to bring a cognitive neuroscience foundation to the parenting literature.

Previous Research

INSTITUTE

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

group

Section on Affective Developmental Neuroscience (SDAN)

advisors

Daniel Pine, M.D.Andrea Gold, Ph.D.

In Danny Pine’s lab, I engaged in translational research investigating the neurobiology of pediatric and adolescent anxiety disorders. I was the lead Post-baccalaureate Fellow on two primary research projects: (1) a fear conditioning and extinction recall functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study in anxious and non-anxious youths and adults, and (2) an fMRI study examining functional connectivity at rest in anxious and non-anxious children. Working in Danny's lab enabled me to participate in the research process from start to finish.

institute

Cornell University

group

Early Childhood CognitionLaboratory (ECCL)

advisors

Tamar Kushnir, Ph.D.

In Tamar Kushnir's lab, I studied mechanisms of causal and conceptual learning in young children. During my two years in the ECCL, I gained essential & basic research skills via recruitment, screening and scheduling, and data acquisition. During my senior year, I co-lead a project investigating the language preschoolers use to describe causal events. It was through this lab that I discovered my enthusiasm for working with children.